EUSDI GoG Strengthens Ghana Army Capabilities.
Under the auspices of the German detachment of the European Union Strategic Defence Initiative Gulf of Guinea (EU SDI GoG), Ghana’s Army Combat Training School (ACTS) has launched a two-week Training-of-Trainers cadre focused on assault river crossing operations. The programme, which began on 16 February 2026, brings together 30 selected personnel from across the Ghana Armed Forces to strengthen instructor capacity in complex mobility operations.
The initiative reflects the growing defence relationship between Ghana and the EU, and aligns with broader EU efforts to enhance operational readiness and interoperability with trusted international partners. By promoting shared doctrine, technical exchange, and joint training standards, the programme contributes to improved coordination between European and African forces in multinational contexts.
The opening ceremony was led by Colonel Ekow Nkrane Mensah-Yawson, Commander of ACTS, representing the Commander of Army Training Command and the Chief of the Army Staff of the Ghana Army. EU representation included the German Defence Attaché to Ghana and the head of the EU detachment training team, underscoring Brussel’s continued commitment to structured military cooperation under EU frameworks.
Participants in the cadre have been drawn from several operational and specialist units, including the Engineer Training School, 153 Armoured Regiment, 42 Independent UAV Squadron, and Southern Command. The training is delivered in two phases: classroom-based instruction at the Engineer Training School, followed by field exercises at the Mike Okine Watermanship Camp in Akuse.
Beyond technical proficiency in assault river crossings, a capability critical in both conventional and crisis-response operations, the programme is designed to equip selected instructors to support future multinational exercises. It also signals sustained momentum in EU–Africa defence engagement, particularly in areas related to mobility, resilience, and professional military education.
As European security policy continues to emphasise partnerships beyond the continent, initiatives such as this demonstrate how targeted training cooperation can reinforce mutual readiness while strengthening strategic ties between EU member states and key African partners.
EUSDI GoG
The EU Security and Defence Initiative in Support of West African Countries of the Gulf of Guinea (EU SDI GoG) is an EU initiative combining military and civilian experts under the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
The EU SDI GoG aims to empower and assist Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin to strengthen their security and defence capabilities to respond to security threats and to tackle the spillover of insecurity from the Sahel to the West African coastal states.
The Initiative is composed of a civilian pillar and a military pillar, that will enable the EU to deliver tailored support to partners based on their identified and formulated needs, providing expertise and modular instruments in a timely manner.
